By TAN JIA SHIN

KAMPAR – UTAR's annual run was successfully held on the 15th of July 2012, opening up campus doors to both students and outsiders.

Each UTAR participant had to pay a registration fee of RM20 and outsiders had to pay RM26.

The event organised by Mr S. Theva Das from the Department of Student Affairs (DSA) had the sole objective to encourage students to live a healthy lifestyle and foster good relationships with others.

The campus run was decided upon in January and took the department 6 months in preparations.

Participants were required to complete a 12 km route, encompassing UTAR surroundings and Kampar new town.

There were 4 categories altogether; UTAR Male, UTAR Female, Open Male and Open Female. On the day of the event, there were around 122 helpers and 3 check points.

Each participant was entitled to a free T-shirt, goodie bag, and certificate of participation.​

Overall three male and female winners won RM300, RM200, and RM100 cash prizes for the first, second and third places respectively.

Final year English Language student, Lim Ting Fang, a participant, said that she took part in the event last year but came again this year for the challenge.

“UTAR Campus Run can help kick start the awareness of the need for healthy lifestyles since most UTAR students lead an unhealthy life,” said Lim.

Another participant, also a final year English Language student, Tan Khye Chuin was shocked to have snagged the third place in the UTAR Campus Run 2012.

Tan believes that the UTAR Campus Run can encourage people to lead a healthy lifestyle because people tend to exercise if they have peer influence.

“Running in a group or group training can encourage more people to exercise together and have fun instead of exercising alone” said Tan.

UTAR run is an event that encourages people to change their way of life. Next year, their aim is to attract more people to take part in this activity.

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